O’Brien is
an extremely untrustworthy narrator. The reader truly does not know if any of
the events described in the book actually happened to him. O’Brien is quick to
break the trust when in “Love” he omits a piece of information that Cross asked
him to leave out of the book. This puts
the reader in a strange position in the realization that the narrator’s full
loyalty is not with us. Through his ambiguity, however, O’Brien is able to
further the reader’s interest and curiosity while also subtly commenting on life
at war. O’Brien exemplifies the strong relationships made during wartime and
the absolute immoral brutality that arises during war. The reader is not sure
whether this particular confidential story is disclosed in the book at all but
the fact that Cross asks for it not to be spoken about demonstrates veteran’s inability
to recount certain horrific events. The inconceivable nature of these events
and disgrace it brings upon soldiers causes it to become unspeakable. This
silence, or omission of text, is ultimately more telling and powerful than the
story itself. It plays to the effects of the war on these men rather than what
causes them. O’Brien often will comment on characteristics of the war through
writing styles. For example, in “Spin,” O’Brien uses many scattered anecdotes about
the time spent out of combat at war. These scattered and broken memories exemplify
the fragmented and selective consciousness of veterans.
I completely agree with you that O'Brien is, through his words, an entirely unreliable narrator. However, I believe that he is trying to reach a deeper truth than can be reached simply through literal interpretations of his words. Through both his writing style and certain, strategic omissions, he communicates the reality of war without ever writing about a true reality.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea that the omissions in O'Brien's book represent the fragmented and selective consciousness of veterans. It's true that some events were too scary to remember. O'Brien himself admits to not looking at things in certain situations, or ignoring others. This adds to the story all the more, because looking at all that the author does talk about, it's interesting (and somewhat horrifying) to think about what was actually left out.
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